Will Tormund and Brienne Hook-Up in Game of Thrones Season 7

Last season on Game of Thrones, when the Wildlings were brought over to the other side of The Wall by Jon Snow (Kit Harington), one of the most interesting and humorous side plots developed, a potential "romance" between Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). While it's become quite clear that Brienne has no interest in pursuing any romantic relationship with Giantsbane, it seems that Tormund will still keep trying, as Kristofer Hivju revealed in a recent interview. Here's what he had to say about this potential romance, teasing that Tormund thinks he "has a shot" with Brienne, while shedding some light on the Wildlings' mentality when it comes to dating.

"Tormund definitely thinks he has a shot. It's the way the Wildlings are. The women are so strong. They're equals. They all fight. Like with Ygritte, she has to fight as well as everybody else. When a Wildling is rejected that means 'thumbs up.'"

Kristofer Hivju also told Entertainment Weekly that the fan reactions to "Briemund" was "crazy," adding that it gave the show some "soap opera" moments. Series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have confirmed in the past that they hadn't actually intended to create this potential romance at first, but it just developed naturally through the actors' performances. Here's what David Benioff had to say about how the first interaction with Brienne and Tormund was originally written.

"That scene last season when Tormund was eating and lasciviously staring at Brienne was one of our favorites. Usually, when we really love something there are a few other people who like it as well. It's great because there was no dialogue written for that, or major stage direction, there was just a line like, 'He stares at Brienne because he's never seen a woman like that before.' And then we let the actors do what they do."

Unfortunately, there won't be a happy ending for this couple, with David Benioff adding that they, "need to kill one of them now because there can't be a happy ending or an romantic connection on the show," although he would not say which of these characters will die. He also wouldn't confirm if this death will happen in Game of Thrones Season 7, or in the final season, arriving either in 2018 or 2019. D.B. Weiss added that another favorite scene of his was when Tormund flashed an awkward smile at Brienne, as they were all leaving Castle Black together. Here's what he had to say below.

"There was the episode where they're all leaving Castle Black together and there's a shot, it wasn't scripted at all, of two of them on horseback and she looks at him and he smiles at her. It's not something you could ever write. It's just this moment where this guy is creeping out on her and he smiles in a way that makes her very uncomfortable and she just looks away. I saw it 150 times and every time it made me laugh; it's purely the two of them."

As for the upcoming Season 7, both Brienne and Tormund were last seen with Jon Snow (Kit Harington), as he was crowned the new King in the North at Winterfell. While Tormund's relationship with Jon Snow certainly got off to a rocky star, when they first met in Season 3, Kristofer Hivju confirms that they're all on the same team now. Here's what he had to say below.

"It's no longer a debate if he's with Jon or not, they're now a team. His arc from meeting Jon Show in that tent for the first time, Tormund's been through a lot. Now it's all about saving humanity, kind of."

Game of Thrones Season 7 kicks off on Sunday, July 16 at 9 PM ET on HBO. The cast and crew will also head down to San Diego Comic-Con next weekend, with a Hall H panel on Friday, July 21 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Cast members in attendance include Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm, John Bradley as Samwell Tarly, Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth, Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei, Conleth Hill as Varys, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark. This will be the first time that the show has had a panel while the new season has already started airing, so it will be interesting to see what will be revealed.